The praying mantis catches the cicada, and the yellow finch is behind.

Menshikov sent Apraksin to lead a large army to take over Moscow, which was naturally a highly classified operation, and although the Moscow direction was the stronghold of conservatives, there were not too many troops here, and there was no vigilance, as long as Apraksin was fast enough, he could take Moscow without bloodshed.

But the problem is that before Apraksin really set off, in fact, the news was already running in the direction of Moscow, and it was naturally the old Ivan's people who sent out the news warning, and they would not sit idly by and watch Menshikov successfully become the emperor of Russia, which is not in the interests of the current Great Chu.

Therefore, while the Apraksin army was still on the march, the Dolgoruky, Naryshkin, and Lepnin families, who had received the news in Moscow, had already gathered in the Kremlin in Moscow, and they were all pale, almost unable to stand on their feet, and many of them were already thinking about how to escape for their lives.

Of course, today's Kremlin is not very extravagant, its main part is still made of oak logs and limestone, decorated with intricate carvings, and each roof is built into a special round arch, and the centuries-old palace is now a major meeting place for conservatives.

When there was no news from Duke Golitsyn and Duke Dolgoruki, the leaderless conservatives were now scattered, and although everyone knew that if they delayed any longer, everyone would die, but no one could stand up and truly dominate the overall situation.

However, at this critical moment, a middle-aged man in his early forties walked in from outside the hall, a German with long hair and glasses on his face, who looked quite Sven, and was now the Minister of Postwork and Chairman of the Special Committee on Commerce, Andrei Ivanovich Ostelman.

Born in Westerley, Germany, to a family of pastors, Ostermann was born in a family of pastors in Westeria, Germany, and then had no choice but to flee to Amsterdam and then ship to Russia.

And Ostermann himself was very talented, knew seven foreign languages, entered the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a translator at the age of twenty-two, became secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs two years later, and played a very important role at the Åland Islands Conference that year, and was reused? Later, he dominated all of Russia's foreign foreign policy? As a result, he was promoted to the rank of First Class Civil Officer, and later to the position of Supreme Privy Councillor, Secretary of Posts and Chairman of the Special Committee on Commerce.

Therefore? When this middle-aged man walked into the Kremlin? Almost everyone's eyes were on him, and they wanted Osterman? Able to lead everyone out of the predicament.

"I'm sure you already know the shocking news that Menshikov has already staged a coup d'état in St. Petersburg? He put His Majesty under house arrest and even killed His Majesty? And now he has sent men to Moscow with a large army, hoping to kill all of us before we discover his plot—"

Osterman's face was a little heavy, and he said in a loud voice: "If we don't resist again? So we'll never have to resist again? Because before that, we will all be killed. ”

"What do you think we can do now, Mr. Earl? The forces of Moscow were not enough to withstand the Guards, and it was difficult for us to mobilize the defenders in Moscow under the edict of His Majesty the Emperor. ”

Duke Vasily on the side took a deep breath? There was a bit of sadness and despair on his face, and the current situation made him somewhat panicked.

Osterman glanced around at the crowd? But I only saw a blank look, but Duke Alexei was still a little calm? I couldn't help but nod secretly, and then said in a loud voice: "Anyway? Can't we all sit back here? The Guards have at least two more days to reach Moscow? This time is our last chance, and I think, Duke Alexei should have a way, isn't it? ”

Hearing this, everyone looked at Duke Alexei, who really looked calm, and he slowly spoke: "You should understand that now His Majesty the Emperor is under the control of Menshikov, so this edict can be concluded to have been forged by Menshikov himself, and we don't need to pay attention to ....... at all."

Speaking of this, Duke Alexei glanced at everyone, and saw that everyone was quite moved, and then confided his true thoughts, "Since Menshikov can forge the edict, we can also not recognize the emperor in St. Petersburg and elect a new emperor in Moscow!" ”

When everyone heard this, their hearts suddenly sank, they knew that Peter II might not be able to survive the coup, even if the little emperor who survived, he had completely lost power, but now the proposal to set up another emperor is really very bold, and it is also very in line with the positioning of Duke Alexei!

The reason is simple, among the conservatives, many people want to take the emperor into their own hands, so as to ensure that the court can always be under the control of the conservatives, among which the original Duke Dolgoruki and Duke Alexei belong to this part of the people, while Osterman and Duke Golitsyn and others believe that the authority of the emperor should be guaranteed.

Now that Duke Dolgoruky and Duke Golitsyn have lost news, Duke Alexei immediately came up with his own plan, which is to declare that Menshikov has killed Peter II, so they need to re-establish an emperor in Moscow in order to crusade against Menshikov.

Duke Vasily thought a little too much, and asked softly, "But can this method work?" At least we need to convince Colonel Molov that without his support, even I would not be able to mobilize the city guards, nor the rest of the army. ”

"I fully agree with Duke Alexei's proposal."

The first to approve was not Duke Alexei, but Osterman, although he wanted to protect the authority of the emperor, but he was not a pedantic person, "but there is one point, if you want to elect a new emperor, it seems that the only candidate at the moment is Princess Elizabeth." At this, his brow couldn't help but furrow.

"Elizabeth? No, she is not fit to be the new emperor! ”

Not only Duke Alexei objected, but the other conservative aristocrats also shook their heads, after all, everyone knew in their hearts that although this Princess Elizabeth was a woman who could charm all beings, she had Peter the Great's blood in her bones, and even to some extent, she was more like Peter the Great than other brothers and sisters, and she was also a complete reformer.

If Elizabeth is put on the throne, what is the difference between the situation and the situation back then, they are not willing to ask for hardship.

Osterman finally shook his head, and he was a little puzzled: "But do we have any more suitable candidates at the moment?" ”

Duke Alexei smiled slightly and said softly: "Naturally, there is...... Moreover, I have already sent someone to invite her. ”

........

On the Baltic coast of Europe, there is a small country called the Duchy of Courland, which was originally a product of the dissolution of the Livonian Order, but because of its geographical environment, it was valued by several European powers, including France, Sweden, Prussia and Russia.

The Duchy was ruled by Duke Wilhelm, the nephew of the King of Prussia, and during the Great Northern War, the Duchy of Courland was also the focus of the rivalry between Poland and Sweden, so it was also on the radar of Peter the Great.

Because the Duchy of Courland is small in size, but its geographical location is very important, if Courland falls to Sweden, then it will become a bridgehead to hinder Russia's westward advance, and in the same way, if Courland falls to Russia, then in addition to St. Petersburg, the window to Europe, Russia will completely open the door to Europe.

In order to strengthen his influence on Courland, in 1710, Peter I used marriage to marry his seventeen-year-old niece Anna Ivanovna to Duke Wilhelm, the ruler of the Duchy of Courland, and let Duke Wilhelm return to Courland with Anna Ivanovna the following year.

However, what I never expected was that the young Duke William died of a serious illness only four months after his marriage, and Princess Anna, who had fed the eldest man medicine, became a little widow as a matter of course, which was a nightmare for her.

Just as the little widow Anna was about to pack up and return to St. Petersburg, she received the tragic news, because Peter I, who had learned of the death of Duke William, soon realized that this was a great opportunity, because according to the law, after the death of Duke William, the new ruler of Courland was also the eighteen-year-old widow.

As long as Anna remained in Courland, then she could continue to contribute to the great cause of Peter I, so Peter I not only did not allow Anna to return to Russia, but also asked her to stay in Courland, and in order to supervise his niece, Peter I also sent a minister named Bestuzhev to Courland, and took over the affairs of the Duchy of Courland.

Of course, the lonely little widow Anna soon hooked up with Bestuzhev, and also used her power in Courland to raise a little white face, and lived a very happy life.

It is particularly worth mentioning that the Duchess Anna is also very fond of international style, and she has adopted mistresses all over almost all countries, and has become her right-hand men, such as the German Beeulen, the Livlanders Levenwald brothers, the Oldenburg Minich, the Lithuanian Yaguzhinsky, the descendants of the Princes of Kabardino, Cherkassky, the Russians Golovkin, Ushakov and Volynsky......

However, Duchess Anna, who was living happily in Courland, was ignorant of the changes in Russian politics, and until the conservative forces sent people to greet the duchess, she was still fighting with her lover Biheren, and the two left traces of love everywhere in Courland......

"What? Menshikov rebelled? He also put His Majesty the Emperor under house arrest, O, my poor little Peter! ”

Duchess Anna looked at the conservative messenger who came from Russia in front of her, and a trace of sadness appeared on her hideous and ugly face, you must know that this is extremely rare, because this Duchess Anna has not lived in a bad environment since she was a child, and she is almost the same heaven and earth as Bai Fumei Elizabeth, so she has been extremely cruel since she was a child, and she has a deep hatred for Peter the Great.

Although so many years have passed, Duchess Anna does not have any nostalgia for Peter I, on the contrary, Peter II has a better relationship with her, and the relationship between the two aunts and nephews is relatively harmonious, and they often give each other gifts or something during the New Year's holidays.

The messenger from Russia was a major officer sent by Duke Alexei, named Golovkin, although his handsome face made Anna's heart like a deer, but this person was very capable, and when he came, he directly invited Anna to his carriage, and carefully analyzed the current form of Russia with Anna.

“....... The adults of Moscow have decided, and it is up to you to return to Moscow and become emperor! ”

Anna was stupid all of a sudden, she was actually not such an ambitious woman, and immediately stammered: "Major, aren't you joking, you say that I, a Duchess of Courland, can I go to Moscow to be the emperor of Russia?" It's a big joke. ”

Major Golovkin said respectfully: "That's right, at the moment Menshikov is in rebellion in St. Petersburg, and His Majesty the Emperor Peter is under house arrest, and it is very likely that his life and death are unknown at the moment, so for the sake of the empire, you can succeed to the throne in Moscow and become the new emperor, so as to lead us to put down the rebellion!" ”

"Wait, what about Elizabeth? You know, she is the emperor's biological daughter, even if His Majesty Emperor Peter II has been placed under house arrest by Menshikov, but she will be the empress next! ”

Obviously, although Duchess Anna is just a vulgar woman who likes handsome guys, she is not a fool, and she is quite clear about the order of the succession of the throne, but when it comes to Elizabeth, Anna's face can't help but feel a little strange, a year after Elizabeth was born, she was married to Courland, although the two have not had any dealings with each other, Anna has heard of Elizabeth's good name more than once.

In other words, almost all the noble children who have seen Elizabeth almost hype up this cousin in front of Duchess Anna, but none of them have made any comments on Anna's appearance, and even some of the comments behind their backs are mostly negative, which makes Anna actually have a lot of jealousy in her heart.

Why?

Why was she born with everything, but she was going to be married to Courland?

Why does almost everyone like her from the bottom of their hearts, but others often look at them with strange eyes?

Anna vented fiercely in her heart, and then sneered: "It's okay to make me emperor, then please agree to my request, kill Elizabeth first!" ”